The U.S. Army this week invited reporters to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland to see soldiers test-fire new weaponry on the Stryker combat vehicle, including a 30mm cannon and the Javelin anti-tank missile.
The weaponry is designed to give the eight-wheeled personnel carrier made by General Dynamics Corp. more punch, especially in Europe, where Russia has increased military activity. The vehicle was previously armed with an M2 .50-caliber machine gun or MK19 grenade launcher.
Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Young, senior NCO of the Army's Stryker combat vehicle program, discusses the 30mm cannon on the new Infantry Carrier Vehicle-Dragoon vehicle during a media day at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Aug. 16, 2017. Soldiers with 2nd Cavalry Regiment spent six weeks at Aberdeen testing and training on the new Stryker vehicle and a remote Javelin anti-tank missile system, which are expected to head to Germany early next year for additional user testing. (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)
A dozen of the new-and-improved vehicles -- six armed with the 30mm cannon and six with the Javelin atop the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) -- will head to Germany in January and eventually Poland, the Army said.
"This capability coming to [2nd Cavalry] is directly attributable to Russian aggression and we are actively working with our foreign partners in how to help shape our formation," Lt. Col. Troy Meissel, the regiment's deputy commanding office, said in a press release.
Staff Sgt. Randall Engler, a squad leader with 2nd Cavalry Regiment, shows off one of the 30 mm rounds that are fired from a cannon on top of the new Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle-Dragoon vehicle during a media day at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Aug. 16, 2017. Soldiers with 2nd Cavalry Regiment spent six weeks at Aberdeen testing and training on the new Stryker vehicle and a remote Javelin anti-tank missile system, which are expected to head to Germany early next year for additional user testing. (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)
My colleague Richard Sisk is out with a longer story about the exercise and upcoming Stryker deployment at Military.com.
Meantime, check out these videos the Army released showing the "Dragoon" vehicle, as it was nicknamed after the unit, firing the new weapons.
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